Ole! at Benito Juarez Academy
Join American Music Festivals for a free concert in the Pilsen neighborhood, presented in collaboration with the City of Chicago’s 25th Ward! The Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra plays a selection of classical and popular Hispanic music, along with the world premiere of Fantasía cubana, for Violin and String Orchestra by Jorge Amado, with violin soloist Desiree Ruhstrat,
CONCERT PROGRAM
El Relicario - Jose Padilla, arr. Longfield
Romance de Amor – Manuel Ponce, arr. Simmons
Serenata Española - Joaquín Malats
Fantasia Cubano for Violin and String Orchestra - Jorge Amado
Spanish Dance from La Vida breve - Manuel de Falla, arr. Awad
Desiree Ruhstrat, violin
Intermezzo From Goyescas – Enrique Granados, arr. Turina
Libertango - Astor Piazzolla, arr. Kazik
Danza Final from Estancia - Alberto Ginastera, arr. Longfield
Mexico and AMF
2025 Concert and Outreach in Morelia
In March of 2025, AMF’s visit to Morelia featured a concert with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Michoacán. Philip Simmons conducted Dvorak’s American Suite, Beethoven’s Two Romances for Violin, and Brahms Symphony No. 2.
Morelia is a beautiful city with a rich cultural tradition. It is the home to the Conservatorio de las Rosas, founded in 1743 and one of the oldest schools in the Americas and leading conservatories in Mexico. Working with its Director, Jose Raul Olmos Torres, AMF hopes to partner in educational and performance opportunities exploring Mexican music and cultural exchange.
2023 American Music Festivals in Mexico
Conductor Philip Simmons made two tours to Mexico in 2023, thanks to the invitations he received through the efforts of Maestro Gordon Campbell, a Mexican resident originally from the USA. It included concerts in Guadalajara, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas. and Zapopan.
At the beautiful Teatro Degollado, in Guadalajara
Zacatecas Camerata, with violin soloist Alexander Campbell
In Guadalajara with the Zapopan Camerata.
American Music Festivals and Chicago’s Mexican American Community
Through the years, outreach to Chicago’s Pilsen Neighborhood included the following concerts by the Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra:
November 2011, “Noche Mexicana,” with Sones de Mexico, Benito Juarez Community Academy September 2018, “Save St. Adalbert Church,” St. Adalbert Church
May 2019, “Mexican Mother’s Day Concert,” Consulate General of Mexico
December 2021, “25th Ward Christmas Concert,” Benito Juarez Community Academy
LCO with Sones de Mexico
Fundraiser to save St. Adalbert Church
Mothers Day at Mexican Consulate in Chicago
With vocalist Kathy Navigato
Friendship for the future
As we explore Mexican culture, and all the music of the Americas, we find lasting friendships which lead to new opportunities and better understanding.
With members of the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce
Backstage with Maestro José Castillo, Director of the Jalisco Philharmonic
